Jerusalem Governorate warns of new religious status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Jerusalem Governorate, under the Palestinian administration, has issued a warning regarding attempts to impose a ‘new religious status quo’ near the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. According to the Governorate, repeated Jewish rituals and acts of worship at the Bab al-Rahma (Mercy Gate) Cemetery, located adjacent to the mosque's eastern wall, are moving beyond seasonal holiday observances.

The administration stated that these actions are laying the groundwork to transform the site into a permanent Jewish place of worship. The Governorate emphasized that Israel holds no sovereignty over Jerusalem or its holy sites and lacks the authority to alter the identity, nature, or usage of the mosque.

Recent data from the Governorate indicates that 593 individuals entered the Al-Aqsa compound under the pretext of Rosh Hashanah. Under the 1994 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, the Al-Aqsa Mosque remains under the administration of the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf, which is overseen by the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places.